Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-08-30
IELTS Writing Task 1 question
You recently received a letter from a friend asking for advice about whether to go to college or to try to get a job. You think he/she should get a job.
Write a letter to this friend. In your letter
- say why he/she would not enjoy going to college
- explain why getting a job is a good idea for him/her
- suggest types of job that would be suitable for him/her
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Begin your letter as follows:
Dear ................. ,
Student answer (Band 6.5)
Dear Anu,
I hope you're doing well. Getting back to you with my advice that you
asked for. I believe that you should try to find a job rather than going
back to school.
I think that you'd not enjoy going to school as you will go to college as you just completed your master's in Biology, off course which is a tough subject. So, its better if you''ll give yourself some gap from studies.
I suggest that getting a job is a good idea for you. This will not only help to get rid of boredom but also you can earn some money for your future tution fees.
I advice you to find a job in biology sector as it would be great match for you because you can use your past experience that you gained during your field placement. I think that jobs such as biology teacher in a school or working in laboratory would be benefical for you.
Do let me know if you need any other suggestion.
All the best,
Nikita
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
You have addressed all three bullet points required by the task. You clearly state why college might be unsuitable, explain the benefits of working, and suggest specific roles in the biology sector. The tone is appropriate for a letter to a friend. To reach a higher band, ensure your arguments are more fully developed. For instance, instead of just mentioning 'boredom', you could elaborate on how professional experience provides a competitive edge for future career prospects. The response is well-structured and maintains a consistent position throughout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The letter is logically organized with clear paragraph breaks for each point. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'This will not only help... but also' and 'as it would be', which help the flow of ideas. However, the transition between the opening and the first body paragraph is slightly abrupt. To improve, ensure that your linking words are used more naturally to connect sentences. The overall progression of the letter is clear, and the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning from start to finish.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'field placement', 'biology sector', and 'laboratory'. There are some minor errors in word choice, such as 'tution' (spelling) and 'off course' (which should be 'of course'). Additionally, 'biology sector' is slightly unnatural; 'scientific field' or 'biological research sector' would be more precise. While your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, incorporating more sophisticated collocations or less common synonyms would help elevate your score to a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are several grammatical slips that occur throughout the text, such as 'I advice you' (should be 'advise'), 'its better' (should be 'it's'), and 'if you''ll give'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not impede communication. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of modal verbs. Increasing your control over punctuation and avoiding repetitive sentence patterns will help you achieve a higher band in this criterion.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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